Man in 'very critical' condition after early-morning shooting Saturday in San Rafael restaurant - suspect still at large

A 31-year-old San Rafael man was in "very critical" condition after a gunman walked into a San Rafael restaurant and bar early Saturday morning and shot him multiple times in front of about 20 witnesses.

Police were searching for the suspect, described by police only as an Hispanic male wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt, who ran south down B Street after the 1:13 a.m. shooting at Pa's Mexican and Filipino Cuisine at 916 B St.

"Witnesses say he walked into the restaurant, walked right up to the victim and shot him multiple times," said San Rafael police Lt. Dan Fink.

Police have launched a manhunt for the gunman, but had not made an arrest by Saturday evening. After paramedics treated him at the scene, the victim was taken to Marin General Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. Police asked that anyone with information call the San Rafael Police Department at 485-3000. "Anyone who was at the restaurant at the time of the shooting and has not yet spoken with an officer is asked to call immediately," police said in a statement released at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

The restaurant has a liquor license, offers karaoke singing and is open until 2 a.m. The shooting there is at least the fifth in San Rafael in the past two months. On Monday, a man was shot and wounded in San Rafael's Canal area; police arrested a 15-year-old boy, Alan Sanchez, and charged him as an adult with attempted murder. Police said it was gang-related.

In other attacks in the Canal neighborhood, a 21-year-old man survived a Dec. 13 daytime drive-by shooting at Bahia Way and Bahia Lane. On Feb. 4, a 20-year-old man survived a shooting near Canal Street. And on Feb. 15 at Kerner Boulevard and Larkspur Street, a man survived numerous gunshot wounds.

Investigators have not yet determined if the latest shooting is related to the others, or if it was motivated by a gang dispute, according to Police Sgt. Todd Berringer.